TOWN Juniors travel to Boston United in the Youth Cup second round after a dominant display against Rochdale at the Galpharm.
New first-team captain Jonathan Worthington was among a crowd of 504 to see goals by Daniel Highley and Gavin Huxall (penalty) book safe passage for John Dungworth's Under 18s.
A 69th-minute bolt out of the blue from Rochdale substitute Daniel Hartley made the scoreline much more flattering for the visitors than it should have been.
Had Town been more decisive around the Rochdale box they would have won by a cobbled street, but the result was never in doubt and they can now look forward to meeting the Lincolnshire side, who triumphed 3-2 against Northampton Juniors at York Street last night with a stoppage-time winner from Rob Norris.
Town took the initiative right from the off in their tie and the only surprise was that it took them 35 minutes to get on the scoresheet.
Huxall and James Hand, supported solidly by Matthew Biddle and Joe Shaw in the opening forays, caused Rochdale all sorts of problems and the quality of Town's passing play was made to tell.
The opening goal, strangely, came scrappily from a defensive mistake, but Highley kept his cool when the ball broke loose and steered it home from 15 yards.
It was a signal for the 17-year-old to unveil all the skills which made him a Lilleshall training squad member with England Schools and it promised much more from a Town side who were already well on top.
Marshalled in determined style by skipper Tom Clarke at the back, where Ashley Beck and full-backs Adam Wilson and Chris Evans were in solid form, Town had only one scare in the first half when Clive Moyomodise broke through, but Under 16 keeper Simon Eastwood came to the rescue with a smart clearance.
Only Matthew Kay's raiding from midfield was really causing Town any headaches, but it was only in fits and starts and when Town were awarded a penalty seven minutes into the second half, it seemed they would coast away to victory.
Clarke's barging in the box before a corner caused Rochdale to panic and James McDonagh couldn't resist a tug on the defender's shirt.
Unfortunately for McDonagh, the referee spotted the infringement rather than Clarke's provocation and the powerful Huxall sent keeper Daniel Woodall the wrong way from the spot.
Suddenly Town sparked to life again with Shaw working hard and Daniel Racchi prompting sensibly from the midfield - Highley curling a lovely shot just wide and Huxall teeing up Hand for a cross shot which was even closer.
Hartley's 20-yard lob shot with Eastwood off his line caused talk of extra-time, and the Town keeper had to make a brilliant save to prevent Denis Greenwood netting an equaliser on the break.
Town finished on top, however, with Huxall and Hand bringing late saves from Woodall and the only thing the side will need to improve at York Street is their finishing.
Town - Eastwood, Wilson, Evans, Racchi, Clarke, Beck, Highley, Shaw, Huxall, Biddle (Berrett 75), Hand. Subs not used: Smithies, Skarz, Melcher, Broadbent.
